Scenic train journeys in U.K.

[Foxytail]

looking for ideas for next year

I think there’s one down in the devon
and Cornwall area

It goes all the way from Pickering to Whitby now so is a much longer ride - absolutely stunning through the North Yorkshire moors through Hogsmeade and Heartbeat film locations. Beautiful journey with fish and chips in Whitby then the steam train ride back

I’ve always wanted to do Alnwick to Edinburgh by train. The drive is lovely

We did that route in October, and it is truly stunning. And cheap. A day travelcard cost £22 for two adults and two children to travel on buses and trains throughout NI.

Cumbrian coast Barrow to Carlisle. It runs right round the Irish sea/Solway Firth coast. East coast Newcastle to Edinburgh. Scottish railways West Coast to Fort William, Mallaig. Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh. Harry potter train route in Scotland.

Glasgow to Fort William and then on to Mallaig is by far the most stunning. The Highland scenery is amazing and for a lot of it you’re travelling over land where there are no roads and no other access. Then over Glenfinnan viaduct and a couple of other less famous but amazing viaducts and down to the sea with amazing views of the isles.

Cambrian Coast line - North Wales.

Came here to say this one…

Absolutely stunning, and the train goes through a tunnel carved into the rocks at one point

Alnwick to Edinburgh has a couple of amazing views but is mostly not very exciting.

Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh is also stunning. You can do a round trip: Edinburgh-Inverness-Kyle-Armadale(Skye)-Mallaig-Fort William-Glasgow which would take in some of the best scenery in the country. Kyle of Lochalsh to Armadale would have to be by bus (not v frequent) or taxi and Armadale to Mallaig would be by ferry (frequent and v scenic). I think you’d need to take two days but it would be an amazing trip and every bit of it (except maybe immediate approaches to Glasgow and Edinburgh) is glorious.

The line through mid Wales from Machynlleth into Aberystwyth is the most stunning train route I have ridden; along the Dyfi Estuary. Remote and breathtaking.

Alnwick to Edinburgh has a couple of amazing views but is mostly not very exciting.

I agree. The view coming in to Alnmouth is pretty, as is the view arriving at Berwick-upon-Tweed, but I wouldn't describe the journey as a scenic trip in the way that some of the others described on here are.

Can't you? Op posted very late, and you think that is 'unbelievable' given only four replies and less than twenty minutes, nobody posted a specific train journey that I, for one, have never heard of before?

Some people have interesting expectations on this sight 😁

My one and only suggestion has already been posted so I won't repeat it. Sorry for the intrusion op.

I’d echo Glasgow-Fort William then the Jacobite from FW to Mallaig. Although you can do the latter just on ScotRail if you prefer.

@KeyboardWarriorsUnite maybe I was a bit too hasty, but it is a universally known fact that the Settle Carlisle railway is the most scenic in England

Did you mean how long does it take to travel from Exeter to Newton Abbot? It's around 20-40 mins depending on whether the train is a stopping one or not (there are several small stations between Exeter and Newton Abbot; most of the express trains don't stop at many / any of these, but local trains do). The really picturesque part is probably only 10 mins or so. It's short and sweet.
Make sure you're sat on the correct side of the train for the view (left hand side as you're on the train looking forward in the direction of travel).

Carlisle to Settle
Aberdeen to Ullapool
The East Coast route is gorgeous - over the Forth, the Tay and along the coast north of there.

Plymouth to Gunnislake branch line and the recently opened Exeter to Okehampton line.

Newcastle to Edinburgh - make sure you sit on the coastal side of the train
perth to Inverness through the Scottish highlands
fort William to Mallaig - the route of the “Harry Potter train” but you can save a small fortune by using the normal scotrail service.

Shrewsbury to Pwhelli is the Cambrian Coast line I think. Central Wales line to Swansea is good. North Wales Chester to Holyhead. Settle Carlisle is fantastic on a good day. In the rain it's just bleak. Hope valley between Manchester and Sheffield is nice on a good day.

I love a train journey so am lurking here

the one they showed on the traitors looked 🤌

The shortest cheapest scenic trip is across the forth rail bridge Edinburgh to north Queensferry.

Exeter to painton is scenic and a standard service. I like Sheffield to Manchester Gua the Hope valley

Have to agree with those that said the Cambrian coast, its local to me and its cheap cause you can get a day ranger ticket for it. Kids go free in Wales on trains too.

Birmingham to Wolverhampton. Queen Victoria liked it so much he had the curtains drawn.

I like Sheffield to Manchester via the Hope valley

I like that route too, but the trains are always so crowded that you don't always get a chance to see out of the window.

Trans Pennine services are absolutely shocking right now.

That’s the Fort William - Mallaig route. It’s the other side of the country to where the castle they’re using is!